For the first time this year’s Marathon Derby will raise money for charity. Runners taking part in the May 24 race will pay an extra $10 on their entry fee, to be divided between Kandice Young and drugs rehabilitation centre, Focus Counselling Services.Sixty percent of the money raised will go to Focus, with 40 percent saved for Kandice’s treatment.

Focus Counselling Services was founded in 1993 to provide a ‘halfway house’ for drug addicts.

Fourteen years later, it helps up to 300 people a week battling demons ranging from heroin to alcohol to gambling.

Focus prides itself on its ‘open door’ policy, particularly for those without a personal support network.

Nelson Bascome, assistant to director Sandra Butterfield, says: “Focus was formed out of a need to assist those persons seeking treatment who did not have a real safe place to go.

“We’re on the front line, helping those who haven’t quite made up their mind about seeking treatment. We’re here to assist and motivate them and also help the families who find themselves inundated with issues from those using drugs.”

The Focus centre, in Union Street, Hamilton, stays open 365 days a year. It coordinates help and counselling, and also provides food and work for those wanting to start a new life away from the grip of addiction.

Mr. Bascome says: “It started out on a ‘clubhouse’ model to provide counselling and resources for persons seeking treatment.”

The centre provides breakfast meals and lunch as well as helping to put people to work in public projects.

Trained counsellors Mrs. Butterfield and Mr. Bascome are assisted by four volunteers and between them they help up to 50 people a day.

Drugs treatment remains the core of Focus’s work. It founded Camp Spirit — now run by the National Drug Control Department — in 1999, and helps to refer addicts to the Camp Spirit programme and the Salvation Army.

“We also provide supportive residencies, or ‘recovery homes’, to assist those who have gone through treatment,” says Mr. Bascome.

“We provide housing, money management and life skills, so we are helping to rebuild people’s lives.”

The charity has four houses which provide comfort and shelter. It is also regenerating a property in St George’s, called Jerry’s House, to this end.

Jerry’s House will also accommodate skills workshops for those coming out of treatment and serve as a training centre for people wishing to pursue careers in addiction counselling.

The project is costing $250,000, and Mr. Bascome says donations from the Marathon Derby will help to “move it forward”.

Any funds raised in the Bermuda Day race will also help towards Focus’s annual running costs of $500,000. Although the Government meets half of this, the charity has to make up the shortfall through fundraising events.

“Any extra bit that comes into us is a huge help,” says Mr. Bascome.

“Being chosen as the Marathon Derby charity will help us a long way in providing services. It’s something all Bermudians can do to reach out and help our fellow man, because we’re all affected by these issues.”

Runners can obtain pledge sheets from any Cellular One store. They can choose to run for both beneficiaries or either Kandice or Focus.

The Marathon Derby committee will place notices in The Royal Gazette informing members of the public how to go about making donations. A bank account is to be set up for contributions to the charity fundraiser.